'Passer Mortuus Est' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Death devours all lovely things;
Lesbia with her sparrow
Shares the darkness,—presently
Every bed is narrow.
Unremembered as old rain
Dries the sheer libation,
And the little petulant hand
Is an annotation.
After all, my erstwhile dear,
My no longer cherished,
Need we say it was not love,
Now that love is perished?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Passer Mortuus Est by Edna St. Vincent Millay
A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Passer Mortuus Est is a short but powerful poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, an American poet, and playwright who lived between 1892 and 1950. This poem is part of her renowned collection of sonnets entitled "Fatal Interview" published in 1931. Passer Mortuus Est is a Latin phrase meaning "the dead sparrow" and the poem revolves around the theme of death, grief, and the fragility of life.
This paper seeks to provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of Passer Mortuus Est by examining the poem's structure, language, form, tone, and imagery. Additionally, this paper will explore the underlying themes and symbols in the poem while drawing connections to Millay's life and other works.
Structure
Passer Mortuus Est is a sonnet, a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, a meter that consists of ten syllables per line with the stress on every other syllable. The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, which is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first quatrain introduces the subject matter of the poem, while the second and third quatrains develop the theme. The final couplet provides a resolution or a concluding thought.
Language and Form
Millay's use of language and form in Passer Mortuus Est is deliberate and effective in conveying the theme of the poem. The poem is written in a simple and straightforward language, with no complex words or syntax. The simplicity of the language creates a sense of directness and immediacy that makes the poem more relatable to the reader.
The form of the poem is also significant in conveying the theme. The use of iambic pentameter creates a steady and solemn rhythm that reflects the seriousness of the subject matter. Additionally, the use of the Shakespearean sonnet form creates a sense of closure and completeness, which is appropriate for a poem that deals with the finality of death.
Tone
The tone of Passer Mortuus Est is mournful and melancholic. The poem describes the death of a small bird and the subsequent grief of the speaker. The somber tone is emphasized by the use of words such as "dead," "still," and "cold." The tone of the poem is also reflective, as the speaker contemplates the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
Imagery
Millay's use of imagery in Passer Mortuus Est is vivid and evocative. The poem opens with an image of a dead sparrow lying still on the ground. The bird is described as "cold" and "dumb," creating a sense of lifelessness and finality. The image of the sparrow is significant because it represents the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The second quatrain introduces the image of the speaker's "grief" and "tears," which emphasizes the emotional impact of death. The use of the image of tears creates a sense of empathy and shared experience with the reader, who can relate to the pain of losing someone or something they love.
The final quatrain introduces the image of the "blind eyes" of the sparrow, which emphasizes the transient nature of life. The use of the word "blind" creates a sense of helplessness and vulnerability, as the sparrow's eyes are closed forever. The image of the blind eyes also creates a sense of finality, as if the speaker is saying goodbye to the sparrow forever.
Themes and Symbols
The overarching theme of Passer Mortuus Est is the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem explores the fragility of life and the emotional impact of death. The sparrow represents the fragility of life, while the speaker's grief represents the emotional impact of death. Additionally, the image of the blind eyes represents the finality of death and the sense of irreversibility that comes with it.
The poem also explores the theme of empathy and shared experience. The use of the image of tears creates a sense of empathy between the speaker and the reader, as both have experienced loss and grief. The theme of empathy is further emphasized by the simple and direct language of the poem, which creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.
Connections to Millay's Life and Other Works
Millay's personal life was marked by loss and grief, which is reflected in many of her works, including Passer Mortuus Est. Millay lost her mother at a young age, and she also experienced the loss of several close friends and lovers throughout her life. The theme of grief and loss is a recurring motif in many of her works, including her play Aria da Capo and her poem Dirge Without Music.
Additionally, Millay was known for her feminist views and her advocacy for women's rights. Passer Mortuus Est can be seen as a feminist work in the sense that it emphasizes the emotional impact of death and the importance of empathy and shared experience. The use of direct and simple language also creates a sense of accessibility and inclusivity, which is in line with Millay's feminist views.
Conclusion
Passer Mortuus Est is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. Millay's use of structure, language, form, tone, and imagery is deliberate and effective in conveying the theme of the poem. The use of the Shakespearean sonnet form creates a sense of closure and completeness, while the simple language creates a sense of directness and immediacy.
The theme of the poem emphasizes the emotional impact of death and the importance of empathy and shared experience. Additionally, the poem can be seen as a feminist work in the sense that it emphasizes inclusivity and accessibility.
Overall, Passer Mortuus Est is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message of empathy and shared experience is as relevant now as it was when the poem was first published.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Passer Mortuus Est: A Poem of Life and Death
Edna St. Vincent Millay's Passer Mortuus Est is a classic poem that explores the themes of life and death. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant reminder that life is short and that we must make the most of the time we have.
The poem begins with the line "Death devours all lovely things." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a stark reminder that death is an ever-present reality that we must all face. The use of the word "devours" is particularly powerful. It suggests that death is not just a passive force, but an active one that consumes everything in its path.
The second line of the poem, "Lesbia hath a beaming eye," introduces the character of Lesbia. Lesbia is a reference to the Roman poet Catullus' lover, who is believed to have died young. The use of this reference adds a layer of depth to the poem. It suggests that the speaker is not just reflecting on their own mortality, but on the mortality of others as well.
The third line of the poem, "But no one knows where Lazarus is," is a reference to the biblical story of Lazarus. In the story, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The use of this reference is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is grappling with the idea of resurrection. It is a reminder that death is not the end, but that there is the possibility of life after death.
The fourth line of the poem, "And there is no road to bliss," is a powerful statement. It suggests that there is no easy path to happiness. The use of the word "bliss" is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is not just talking about happiness in the earthly sense, but in the spiritual sense as well.
The fifth line of the poem, "Beauty and strength are vanishing," is a reminder that everything in life is temporary. The use of the words "vanishing" suggests that beauty and strength are not just fleeting, but that they are disappearing before our very eyes.
The sixth line of the poem, "Grace is dead and gone," is a particularly poignant statement. It suggests that grace, which is often associated with the divine, is no longer present in the world. The use of the words "dead and gone" suggests that grace is not just absent, but that it is lost forever.
The seventh line of the poem, "Youth and love and life are fleeting," is a reminder that everything in life is temporary. The use of the word "fleeting" suggests that youth, love, and life are not just passing, but that they are fleeting, like a passing breeze.
The eighth line of the poem, "Death devours all lovely things," is a repetition of the first line of the poem. This repetition is powerful because it reinforces the idea that death is an ever-present reality that we must all face.
The ninth line of the poem, "Nought but sorrow, pain, and woe," is a reminder that life is not always easy. The use of the words "sorrow, pain, and woe" suggests that life is full of hardships and difficulties.
The tenth line of the poem, "Passer-by, love not too well," is a warning to the reader. It suggests that we should not become too attached to the things of this world, because they are all temporary. The use of the word "love" is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is not just talking about material possessions, but about relationships as well.
The eleventh line of the poem, "For fear that thou may'st lose thy love," is a continuation of the warning from the previous line. It suggests that if we become too attached to the things of this world, we may lose them. The use of the word "fear" is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is not just warning us, but that they are genuinely concerned for our well-being.
The twelfth and final line of the poem, "At the end of all thy ways," is a reminder that everything in life comes to an end. The use of the words "end of all thy ways" suggests that there is a finality to life, and that we must all face it.
In conclusion, Passer Mortuus Est is a powerful poem that explores the themes of life and death. It is a reminder that life is short and that we must make the most of the time we have. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant reminder that everything in life is temporary, and that we must not become too attached to the things of this world. Passer Mortuus Est is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a testament to Edna St. Vincent Millay's skill as a poet.
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